Men's Basketball | 1/28/2015 7:12:00 PM
BALTIMORE – The Coppin State men's basketball team makes its annual trek across the Bay Bridge to meet in-state foe Maryland Eastern Shore at the W.P. Hytche Center Saturday afternoon in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) contest. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY: Coppin State leads the all-time series, 58-18. The Eagles and Hawks split both of their matchups last season with each team winning on the road. CSU prevailed 58-50 on Feb. 8, 2014. UMES edged Coppin State, 68-67 on Mar. 1, 2014. Since 2011, Coppin State has won six of the last eight meetings.
LAST TIME OUT FOR COPPIN STATE: The Eagles overcame a pair of 11-point first half deficits to defeat North Carolina A&T, 84-71, for the second consecutive year.
Sterling Smith led four players in double figures with a career-high tying effort of 24 points.
Dallas Gary added 18 points while
Christian Kessee contributed 13 points.
Shomari Triggs finished with 10 points while
Taariq Cephas had a team-high eight assists and seven rebounds.
QUICK LOOK AT UMES: Under the direction of first-year coach Bobby Collins, who coached at Division II Winston-Salem State last season, Maryland Eastern Shore is 12-10 overall and 5-2 in the conference. The Hawks defeated Florida A&M, 72-65, in their last outing on Monday night. They held the Rattlers without a field goal for the final four minutes of the contest. Mike Myers battled his way to 18 points to pace the Hawks, with Devon Walker right behind him at 17 points. Myers leads UMES in scoring (15.6 points per game) and rebounding (6.8).
FIRST CLASS: Coppin State leads the MEAC in scoring (69.3 points per game). In its last three games against Florida A&M, North Carolina Central and North Carolina A&T, Coppin State has averaged 82.7 points per game. In each game, the Eagles have had a half of 40 or more points. CSU scored 49 points in the first half against FAMU, 42 in the first half against NCCU and 45 in the second half against N.C. A&T.
A JANUARY TO REMEMBER: Senior guard
Taariq Cephas will be sad to the month of January conclude. During the month, Cephas averaged 12.8 points, 6.8 assists and 5.5 rebounds per contest. He posted two double-doubles against Akron (12 points, 10 steals) and North Carolina Central (10 points, 12 rebounds). Cephas was also named MEAC Player of the Week on Jan. 5. He scored a season-high 22 points against FAMU. He's handed out at least five assists in five games this month, including three consecutive games.
BALANCING ACT: In its last three games, Coppin State has five players averaging double figures in scoring:
Christian Kessee (18.3 ppg.),
Sterling Smith (15.3),
Dallas Gary (13.0), Cephas (12.7) and
Arnold Fripp (10.0). Cephas is also averaging five rebounds and 8.2 assists in the Eagles' last three games.
END OF THE ROAD: Coppin State has played five of its 20 games at home this season. Saturday's game at UMES marks the end of a three-game road trip for Coppin State. Following this game, Coppin State will play six of its final eight games at home. They leave the state of Maryland once on Monday, Feb. 16 against Delaware State.
GARY'S GLORY: Senior
Dallas Gary has thrived lately in his role as a sixth-man supreme. He has scored at least eight points in five of his last six games. Gary produced a career-high 18 points in his last outing against North Carolina A&T. In his last two games, Gary has scored 83.3 percent of his total points in the second half (26-of-31). He produced 13 points and seven rebounds in a two-point setback to NCCU.
UP NEXT: Coppin State starts a four-game homestand with a nationally-televised contest against Morgan State Monday night at 7:00 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPNU. Coppin State is painting the Physical Education Complex Arena gold. Fans are encouraged to wear gold.
